The response to the Aug. 11 storm that hit Northwest Indiana and left hundreds of thousands without power shows the importance of partnership at the local, state and federal levels, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said during a Monday press conference in the American Red Cross’ emergency shelter Gary’s Hudson Campbell Sports and Fitness Center.
“I’m extremely proud of first responders and local governments,” Braun said. “When you have something like this, those are the first people that are going to reach out. … From Northwest (Indiana) to down (state), we haven’t had this type of event in 100 years.”
Braun, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Cameron Hamilton and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton gave updates on cleanup and remaining damage nearly three weeks after a devastating derecho swept through Northwest Indiana.
Braun, Hamilton and Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director Jonathan Whitham also traveled to Carmel and Connersville to assess flood damage.
Gary has been at the forefront of response efforts, especially as tens of thousands of residents were without power for about two weeks.
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The city still has residents without power, Melton said, as weatherheads — which protect wires outside — to their homes were damaged. Gary residents can receive assistance from the Legacy Foundation to replace their weatherheads, Melton added.
According to NIPSCO’s website, 59 Gary residents are still without power, and 159 total customers are without power.
Melton doubled down on his concerns about NIPSCO’s response to Gary’s mass power outage on Monday.
“The citizens here in Gary have been without a significant amount of power for more than two weeks,” he said. “That’s something that I joined the governor in urging to investigate, to figure out how that process should be improved. I think it’s extremely important that we look for reliability in our energy sources.”
Melton thanked Braun and Hamilton for their support during the storm aftermath.
“(Braun) has been just a phone call away ever since the disaster,” he said.
About one week ago, Braun announced that President Donald Trump had approved a major disaster declaration through FEMA for Indiana, which provides additional resources and assistance. Trump’s approval came quick because the state has a “good relationship” with the federal government, Braun said, adding that it could’ve taken as long as mid-September to get a declaration.
Hamilton also thanked Trump for the assistance and local government.
“I also want to praise this community … for its ability to adapt,” Hamilton said. “I want to praise the amazing partners that are here helping those that are in need, serving food, helping with (FEMA) registration and other assistance.”
Hamilton also encouraged anyone locally affected by the storm to contact FEMA for assistance. Those seeking FEMA assistance can go to disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA also has intake centers throughout Lake County, including 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at United Steelworkers Local 1014 in Gary; and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 4 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Lions Club Social Center in Munster.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said Monday that he’s not surprised that bipartisan support has come from each level of government during storm recovery.
“When you have to help people, and there’s such an outcry and such a major disaster, we all need each other,” Mrvan said. “We saw neighborhood by neighborhood (help), but we saw state, local and federal agencies coming together. The only way we were able to get FEMA in this short period of time was (because) Democrats and Republicans worked together in order to have the administration declare a disaster.”
Gary’s emergency shelter is the largest in Indiana, according to the Red Cross. The organization has six locations throughout Indiana, with 179 people total still needing shelter. As of Sunday night, Gary had 109 people at the Hudson Campbell center.
The Red Cross will provide services as long as needed, according to the Red Cross.
Crystal L. Franklin and Michele Taylor have received Red Cross assistance since the storms hit. They were originally at the YMCA but moved to the Hudson Campbell center.
“I have no idea why we moved,” Franklin said. “Maybe they needed a bigger space. The Hudson Campbell is much larger.”
Franklin and Taylor didn’t know each other before the Aug. 11 storms, but after staying in the same shelters, they’ve grown close.
“I enjoyed her from the first time I met her,” Taylor said. “We just started talking. We were complete strangers.”
They both plan to work with the Red Cross’ Shelter Resident Transition program to find housing in Gary. Both women said they were displaced before the storms.
Franklin and Taylor also said they’re thankful for volunteers and elected officials who have helped those in need, especially Melton.
“I love what the mayor is doing, and it’s good to see the presence of the governor,” Taylor said. “(Melton) seems like he really cares about this city.”
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